On December 2, 2024, the Alberta Government unveiled major reforms to the use of photo radar by municipalities, set to take effect on April 1, 2025. These changes aim to reduce the number of active photo radar locations from 2,200 to approximately 650, a significant reduction of about 70%.
Comprehensive Photo Radar Site Reviews
As part of this overhaul, all existing photo radar sites will undergo rigorous review. If there isn’t substantial evidence that a site improves road safety, it will be decommissioned. Additionally, intersection speed cameras will no longer be permitted. Red light cameras will remain operational, continuing to capture violations at intersections.
Where Photo Radar Will Be Allowed
Under the new guidelines, photo radar devices will be nearly entirely limited to school zones, playground zones, and construction zones. Municipalities can apply for exceptions in other areas, but only if they can provide clear data demonstrating a heightened risk of accidents. High visibility photo radar equipment is proposed to be used universally as an effort to make the roads safer for drivers and pedestrians.
Addressing Municipal Revenue Loss
Photo radar generated an estimated $145 million in revenue across Alberta last year. To mitigate the impact of this loss, the provincial government has pledged to support municipalities with funding to redesign and improve unsafe roads. While the Transportation Minister has not yet disclosed a budget or specific funding amounts, this initiative aims to prioritize long-term safety improvements over enforcement-driven revenue.
Do Photo Radar Tickets Impact Your Insurance Premiums?
Pull over tickets from the police can have a 0%-50% impact on your insurance premiums, depending on the type of ticket you receive with criminal code violations, moving violations, and administrative violations all having different levels of impact. That said, photo radar tickets do not have any impact on your auto insurance premiums. This goes for both speeding tickets and red light tickets from stationary cameras. Photo radar cameras cannot determine who the driver who committed the infraction was, therefore it will not impact insurance premiums.
Will Photo Radar Reforms Impact Alberta Auto Insurance?
While auto insurance premiums are not impacted by photo radar tickets, municipalities could implement additional officers to patrol and issue speeding tickets. If you receive a pull over ticket for speeding, you could lose discounts on your auto insurance that increase the price. There are earned perks such as a minor conviction waiver that allow you to keep your insurance discounts if you receive a single minor conviction (such as speeding). The reforms to photo radar in Alberta will not directly impact auto insurance but if there are more officers patrolling and ticketing drivers, there could be an impact on premiums.
The easiest way to avoid photo radar and pull over tickets is simple, follow the rules of the road completely at all times. Staying up to date on local traffic laws, being mindful of speed limits, and knowing where low speed areas such as schools, playgrounds, and construction zones can help you steer clear of tickets altogether. By driving responsibly, you not only protect your wallet but also contribute to safer roads for everyone.
